Fluid-vending machine.



PATENTED JAN. 29, 1907. J. A. KEYES. FLUID VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13. 1904.

2 SHBETSSHEET 1.

' P'ATENTED JAN. 29, 1907.

- J. A, KEYES. V FLUID VENDING'MAGHINE.

APPLICATION I'ILEI) MAY 13. 1904.

2 SHEBTS-BHEET 2.

Q I l 7 i ME:

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\N\vmwy\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

I JAM ES A. liEYES. ()l N EW YORK, N. Y. ASSIGNOR TO JOIIN MUI IIOLLAND, OF

NEW YORK, N Y.

VFLUID-VENDITNG MACHINE.

To all when-1.. it may concern:

Be 1t known that I, JAMES A.'KEYES, a

citizen of the United States, residing in the &c., although certain features of the inven-' tion maybe employedin vending other commodities.

The liquid or fluid to be sold is contained in a tank or reservoir, and at the insertion of a coin and suitable manipulation of parts a quantity of the liquid is dischar ed into a glass or other vessel of the pure aser. It is necessary, of'course, that the li uid so delivered shall be measured out, an it is with the measuring devices that my invention has largely to do.

One of the rincip'al 'objects'of my invention is to enable the liquid, correctly measured, to be discharged u on the initial stroke of a handle that contro s the apparatus, so that it isonly necessary to insert a coin and press the handle, whereupon the liquid is discharged immediately, and'the operation may be repeated immediately, so that a large quantity of li uid may be dis ensed in a a short time, there y enhancing t e .profitableness ofthe apparatus.

In the preferred form of my invention I employ two measurers, which I contrive to connect. alternately with the tank or source of supply, provision also being made for dis-, each measurer 'while the other is filling, so that liquid may be delivered from the apparatus in measured quantities. as fast as the coins may be inserted and the liquid drawn ofi. I use a four-wa valve, which is operated by a coin contro led -handle,. the

valve preferably bein given intermittent rotary movements by t e handle and at each movement eflecting connection-between one of the measurers and the tank and between the other measurerand the discharge.

' The valve-operating handle in my ferred construction is normally inefiective, being locked so "that it cannot turn the valve,-v while the lockma'yl be released b the insertion of-a coin. ,Thereleasing evice is so pre- Spcifieation of Letters Patent; 7 I Application filed May 13,1904. Serial No. 207,784.

Patented J an. 29, 1907.

formed and mounted that only a coinlof-a predetermined diameter and thickness is ofective' to release the handle.

' In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 a sectional side elevation of a vending apparatus embodyin my improvements. Flg. 2 is a central vertical section taken from front to rear of a casing containing. the principal por tion of the vending mechanism. Fig. 3 1s afragmentary plan of the casing, showing a coin inserted. Fig. 4 is a sectional plan showing the valve-head within the casing and connected parts. bottom view of the parts carried by the top late of the casing; including coin-carrier, ock, &c., said parts being shown in normal osition. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view simiar to Fig. 5, but indicating the look as released by the insertion of a coin, the latter being shown by a dotted circle. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but showing the look as effective, no coin having been inserted. Fig. 8 is a fra mentary sectional elevation at the line a: a: 0% Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a horizontal section taken throu h the valve-head; show- Fig. 5 is a sectional ing the relation of t e ports and valve therein. Fig. 10 is a sectional detail illustratin successive positions of a coin-carrier an ejector. a Y

In the several views'like parts are identified by like signs.

The soda-water .or other fluid or li uid to be sold may be contained in a tank 1, ig. -1,

arranged within a closet or chest 2, a pipe 3 leading from the tank to a valve-head or seat 4, contained within a casing 5, which is secured upon the wall of the closet or chest" and contains the vending mechanism. A

conical valve 6 is shown fitted in the head 4, and a discharge-pipe 7 leads fromfthe-head downwardly, terminating within a spout 8,{ I

provided upon the under side. of the casing.

The liquid of course does not flow directly from the tank through the discharge-pipe,-

but is intercepted an measured, two'meas uring vessels 9 and 10 being provided within the chest, and preferably within a small com partment 1 1, adapted to contain'ice for cool-v ing the liquid to be sold. 11A pipe 12 leads from the head 4 to the measurer 9'and a pipe 13-fro1n the head to measurer 10. The head 4 accordingly has'fourchannels or portsone for the supply, one for the, discharge, and j the ports 14 and 1 5. For compactness and convenience, however, ,the ports 16 and 17 may be bowed, as illustrated, so'that the pipes 12, 3, and 13 may-range side by side. The discharge-pipe is secured by means of a flange 18, screw or gland 1-9, andpackingring 20, and the other pipes may be similarly .attached.

The valve 6 is of the four-way variety, be-

.ing provided with a pair of channels 21 22,

out of communication with each other and each bowed so that its mouths are separated by ninety degrees, thus makin four equidistant openings in the perip iery of the valve to register with the ports in thehead 4, as at Fig. 9. Either of the channels 21 22 in the valve is capable of putting elther of the measurer-ports 16 17 into communication with either the su ply-port 14 or the discharge-port 15. l\ oreover, when one measurer-port is in communication with the su ply the other is in communication with t e discharge; quarter-revolutions each measurer is accordingly filled and dischar ed in alternation, and while the discharge fronuthe apparatus may be almost constant still each quantity discharged is measured before discharge, and no more than the measured quantity can be drawn ofl at a single operation.

At Fig. 9 the measurer 12 is shown in communication through the channel 21 with the 'discharge 7 and the measurer 13 through 22 with the sup ly 3. By turning the valve a quarter-revo ution to the right, as indicated by the arrow, -12 will be put into communication through 22 with supply 3 and 13 through 21 with discharge 7. By giving the valve another quarter-turn the positions of the channels 21 22 will be exactly the reverse of Fi 9, but the efiect will be the same as at Fig. 9, the channels being similar but oppositely-disposed. The invention is not, however, limitedto the use of a fourway valve in connection with the two measurers.

Upon the top of the valve, which may be of conical'forrn and secured in its seat by a screw 23 and washers 24 25, is secured by screw 26 a ratchet-wheel 27, having four equidistant teeth 28. A pawl 29, Figs. 2 and 5, in position to engage said teeth and rotate the valve, is pivoted by-means of a screw 30 upon a horizontal plate-like mem ber 31 which lies immediately beneath the top plate 32 of the casing 5 and turns about By giving'thevalve intermittent a vertical axis or shaft 33, whichis preferably concentric with the valve 6. Said plate '31 is fixed upon saidshaft 33 by a screw 34, and from the upper end of the shaft or stem 33 projects a handle 35, whereby through the shaft, the late, the pawl, and the ratchet-teeth the va' ve is operated.

The handle swings to and fro, one movement causing the pawl 29 to rotate the valve a distance of ninety degrees and the return movement of the handle being inefi'ective to turn the valve, the pawl slipping over the ratchet-tooth 28, being pressed into engagement with the succeeding tooth by a s' ring 36, Fig. 5. The return movement 0 the handle-plate 31 and pawl is effected by a spring 37. Thus by successive reciprocations of the handle the valve is given successivequarter-turns in a single direction,

with the effect of discharging the measurers in alternation in the manner already set forth. The handle 35,"however, is normally ineffective to turn said valve and can be rendered eiieetive only by the insertion of a proper coin into the machine. A look 38 is pivoted, bymeans of a screw 39, upon the under side of the plate 31 and is normally held by a spring 40 in such a osition that its nose 41 engages a stop 42, ed Within the casing, as will be understood from Fig. 7, whenever an attempt is made to turn the handle without first inserting the coin, so

that the handle cannot be swung sufliciently to operate the valve properly. When the parts are in normal position, a stop-arm 43, formed upon the plate 31, is held by the spring 37 against the inner wall of the casing, and the stop 38 is held by the spring 40 in contact with a bearer 44, fixed within the casing, the edge of the stop being curved at 45 concentrically with the axis 33 and resting against said bearer, but being rounded off at 46, so as to permit the lock to swing out to engage the stop 42, as at Fig. 7, at the initial 'ortion of the movement of the handle 35'. This lock is controlled by an insorted coin, which is designated as 47, Figs. 3 and 6, and is inserted through-an a erture 48 in the top I plate 32 into a 00 et 49, formed in the top surface of the p ate 31.

Against the inner edge of the coin bears a tongue 50, which is fixed upon the upper surface of the lock. and occupies a recess. 51 in the plate 31 the tongue being held against the coin by the spring 40. When the coinpocket is unoccupied, there is nothing to prevent the tongue from projecting thereinto, as at Fig. 7, thus permitting the lock to swing out to engage the stop 42; but when the pocket is filled by a coin the movement of the look is prevented, as at Fig. 6, and consequently said lock swings past the stop 42 and the handle 35 is permitted to make a full stroke, thereby operating the valve, giv- IOO ' effectual to unlock the handle.

ing the same a quarter-turn. As will be seen confined by the plates 32 and 60. These top 65 at Fig. 8, tl1e-tongue 50 is very thin and is 4 formed .upon, the top of a rivet 52, whereby a space is leit beneath the tongue into which an unduly thin'coin or piece of metal may pro-' ject, so that such thin metal or disk is in- Moreover, a disk that is too small in diameter will also fail to hold the lock out far enough to pass the sto 42, while a disk that is too thick cannot e inserted into the pocket.-

In operation the soda-water tank 1 is properly connected to the pipe 3 and the chest 11 is preferably supplied with ice. The valve 53 at the tank, F1 1, is opened, and the soda-water passes .Trom the tank through pipe 3, portfl'in the valve-head 4,

. channel 22 in theval-ve-, and port 17, to the j plicate ports' are placed one aboveanother, so as. to ;-regis ter properly at the valve move measurer-pipe 13 and measure-r 9, filling the same. Acoin-is inserted,'. as at Fig. 3, and the handle 35 isfturne'd to the right as far as it will go, being arrestedaft er making about a quarter-turn .by I any; suitable means as,

for instance, a stop 54,- Fig. 5', which s en-,

gaged by. the edgeof the stop' arm 43" of the coin-carrying plate 31. the handle through the. pas-L29 andratchet 27 gives the valve a ,quarter turn, whereby the supply-pipe 3-beeo1nes: CQ11110t9(l Wll3l1 the measurer 10 and the measurer 9 becomes connected .with the discharge. The handle is held in this position until the-fluid is all drawn off from the ineasurer 9." Then the handle 35 is released and returned. to normal position by the sprin 37, the pawl 29 riding over the ratchet-tooth 28.

At the initial movement of the handle a coin-ejector in the form of a springfin.ger55, attached by a screw 56 to the under side of the top plate 32, rides over the top of the coin, as will be understood from Fig; 10, but by means of a lip 57 hooks or engages said coin upon the return stroke of the coin-carrier 31 and ejects the same into a chute 58,

which permits the coin to fall into'a receptacle 59, Fig. 1. Upon the insertion of a fresh coin and operation of the handle-the measurer 10 is drained, while 9 is filled, and

the operation may be repeated until the tank is exhausted; Y 1

v The channels or ports in the valve .and., valve-head are preferably duplicated, as at 22 22*,- 15 15, Fig. 2, said portsfbein'gof' small diameter, so as to prevent too free 68-,

cape of the" soda-water and to effectually mingle the .gas with the liquid. These duments, and each- ,of the packing-rings or washto'match the ports; I I

ers 2 0 isfof course formed'with two ap ertures top plate 32, aibottoin plate .60',f2'1.nd. fifplate 61', curved to form side andifront wall's' v This] movement of and bottom plates are held by bolts 61 in recesses 62, formed in an open rectangular frame or base 63, which by screws 6 1s at 'tached to the Wall of the chest 2, Fig. 1.

,It will be observed that the casing may be very readily assembled and disassembled and also that the handle 35, being mounted in the top plate, is readily removable from the valve 6, which is mounted upon the bottom plate,

"or rather in the head 4, which is attached by screws 65 to the bottom plate By simply taking out the screws'61 the casing and mech anism may be disassembled, so that all parts are readily accessible for inspection and reair. v P Variations maybe resorted to within the scope of. my invention, and portions of my improvements may be used without others. 7

Having thus described my invention, 1 claimf p A,

1 The-combination of a casing, a handle mounted-for a turning. movement, a coincarrier within the casing and connected to" said handle to turn therewith, a lock pivoted upon said carrier and releasable by the insertion. of'a coin, and a fluid-controlling valve controlled by said handle.

2. The combination of a casing, ahandle mcu'nted for a turning movement, a carrier within the casing and rigid with said handle and provided with a coin-pocket, a lock pivotedupon'said carrier and releasable by the insertion of a coin into said pocket, means for discharg ng said coin from said pocket, a

coin-receptacle, and a fluid-controlling valve controlled by said handle.

- 3. The combination of a casing, a handle mounted for rotation, a carrier fixed to said handle and within said'casing and provided with a coin-pocket, and a lock pivoted upon said carrier and provided witha spring and releasable by the insertionof a com into s'ald pocket. 1

withinthe casing and connected to the handle and provided With a coin-pocket, a lock movableupon said, carrier and having a tongue projecting into sa1d. pocket, sa1d tongue being "so formed that it can be operated' only by a coin of predetermined thickness and-diameter, and a fluiddispensing valve controlled by said handle.

. ".Th'e combination of acasing, a handle,

The combination of a, casingja handle .mounted' for. turning movement, a carrier stem for said handle, a coin-carrier provided with a coin-pocket and mounted upon 1 return movement saidstcm within the casing, a, lock plvoted upon the carrier and having a thln tongue thereof falls behind the. coin and ejects the same fromthe pocket.

projecting into said pocket, and a coin- I JAMES ejector in the form of a sprin -h00k which Witnesses: rides over the face of the coin uring the ini- W. E. PEARsE,

tial movement of said handle, and upon the I'WILLIAM N. BREMER. 

